Disappearing target



-Nov. 1, 1949 E. e. MEMMEL 2,436,360,

DISAPPEARING TARGET Filed Nov. 10, 1945 INVENTOR EDGAR G.MEMMEL ATTORNEYS- Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISAPPEARING TARGET Edgar G. Memmel, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application November 10, 1945, Serial No. 627,858

1 Claim. 1

My invention has for its object to provide a simple and effective target embodyin a rotary disc having a series of hinged gravity controlled disappearing objects mounted upon said disc and adapted to travel in a step by step movement, the disc being driven by any suitable power.

'A further object of my invention is to provide a suitable frame carrying a notched wall plate with a driven disc journaled in the frame, which disc carries a series of gravity controlled target objects pivoted thereto, there being a stop extending from the frame for engaging the objects, whereby the wheel is held, and for releasing said wheel when the object is tripped backwards, when struck by a projectile, whereby a step by step movement of the power driven disc is had.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it being understood that such changes in the Precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical ap lication of the principles thereof.

In the drawings:

Fi 1 represents a face view of a target embodying the features of my invention. parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate structural features.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, the section being indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. 3. And

Fig. 3 is a rear face view of the tar et, with parts broken away and in section to illustrate structural features.

Referring by characters to the drawings, l indicates a base having extended upwardly therefrom arms I'--|', having inclined faces to which the arcuate head of a block 2 is secured, the block being cut away at its base to form a release pocket 2'.

The circular head of the block 2 has extended therefrom a central pivot bolt 3, upon which pivot bolt is journaled a rotary disc 4. Fitted to the disc 4 and rotatably mounted upon the pivot bolt 3 is a cavitied wheel '5. Fitted into the wheel cavity is a coil spring 6, secured at itS inner end to the pivot bolt 3 and at its outer end to the wheel 5.

As best indicated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the rotary disc 4 is provided with a series of clutch sockets 1, which sockets are adapted to engage spring pawl dogs 8. The said dogs being carried by the spring actuated wheel 5, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings.

Thus the spring wheel 5, through its pawl dog connections, imparts rotatory motion to the disc 4, it being understood that the spring is rewound by a handle 6' extending from said wheel. It will be noted that the nested driven disc and wheel 5 rest upon the inclined face of the armate head block 2, whereby said moving parts are positioned at an angle extending towards the front of the target.

The periphery of the disc has hinged thereto a serieslof forwardly extended shoes 9, which are of sufficient weight to be controlled, under certain conditions, by gravity. The outer edge of each shoe is slotted for the reception of a target plate I0, each of which plates may be thus interchangeable for plates showing the pictures of various game birds or animals, it being understood that the plates are frictionally held in their proper position within the shoe slots.

The front edge of the base I and flush edges of the arms I have secured thereto a wall plate ll, having a notch H therein, at its upper edge, in vertical alignment with the axis of the driven disc 4, it being understood that when the target objects carried by the plate ID are brought into alignment with the wall notch II, the shoes 9, of the plate, rest upon the periphery of the circular block 2, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The target object, in its exposed position with reference to the wall plate notch H, is engaged by a stop l2 in the form of a pin, and due to such engagement the spring actuated disc is locked in said position.

From the foregoing description it is understood that in the event the exposed target plate In is struck by a projectile of any character, the impact upon the plate will cause the same and its shoe to rock backwards upon its hinge pivot, as indicated in dotted lines of Figure 2, and thereby disappear from vision. Thus the shoe will be freed from its locked position, with reference to the fixed stop 12, whereby the power driven disc will rotate one step in the direction as indicated by the arrows in Figures 1 and 3.

Incidental to this movement of the disc, a suc ceeding object plate II] will rotate in alignment with the wall aperture H and be checked in its position by the stop 12. The knocked-down target objects plate will thus swing, in their step by step motion, in an inclined position extending rearward of the wheel until such time as they progressively pass the pocket edge 2 of the block 2, whereby they will be free to swing outwardly, by gravity, into the release pocket and the shoes will come to rest upon the periphery of the arcuate block head, as indicated in dotted lines of Figure 2. Thus the objects upon the plates automatically assume their upright target position.

While I have illustrated and described specifi= cally one mechanism for accomplishing the desired results, it is understood that I may vary the structural features, particularly with reference to the frame and means for imparting intermittent rotation to the disc, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A disappearing target comprising a base sup ported wall plate, having an upper notch therein, a forwardly inclined fixed arcuate block head rearwardly of the wall plate, having a central pivot and a depending base provided with one edge in vertical alignment with the block head pivot to form a target trip pocket, the arcuate periphery of the block head serving as a target track, a driven disc mounted upon the block pivot, a series of target carrying shoes pivoted to the disc and slidably engaging the arcuate head of the block track for a portion of the disc travel, a stop pin extending from the block head engageable with the forward ends of the target shoes, whereby when a target is struck it will rock back upon a horizontal plane to free it from the stop pin, the said target thereafter being adapted to ride upon a horizontal plane until released by passing the vertical pocket edge of the block, whereby the leverage upon the target will catise the same to drop forward by gravity to a vertical position with the shoe riding upon the arcuate edge of the block head.

EDGAR G. MEMMEL.

REFERENCES CITED "The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

